Shane Plumley, 27, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 21 months in prison.

Plumley pleaded guilty to this charge on July 31. Plumley was also ordered to pay $16,118 in restitution, which represents the amount of benefits Plumley received while incarcerated, according to a U.S. Department of Justice news release.

Prosecutors said Plumley had been receiving Supplemental Security Income since 1992. SSI provides a nominal stipend to SSI recipients. Quality control checks, or "redeterminations," are periodically conducted to ensure a SSI recipient continues to qualify for benefits. Redetermination interviews can be conducted via mail, over the phone or in person interviews with a claimant/recipient.

An incarcerated claimant is not eligible for SSI benefits while imprisoned for more than 30 days.

Plumley was aware he was not entitled to SSI benefits if he was incarcerated for more than 30 days, the DOJ said. He was also aware that he was required to notify the SSA of any period of incarceration greater than 30 days.

Plumley was incarcerated between Dec. 17, 2008, and Dec. 28, 2010. During this time, Plumley received SSI benefits totaling $16,118. In late March 2011, the SSA contacted Plumley to conduct a redetermination interview over the phone. The SSA representative asked Plumley if he was incarcerated. Plumley denied being incarcerated.

Plumley's SSI benefits were direct deposited into his account at a credit union. While incarcerated, Plumley wrote to the credit union and requested that a cashier's check be sent to him at Jackson Correctional Institution.

The money was then placed in Plumley's prison account. A cashier's check from the credit union was deposited into Plumley's prison account every month.

Plumley said he used the money for phone calls from prison, food and clothes and sending money to his mother and sister.

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